…Critics have been urging me to rescind my “Decree Regarding Same-sex ‘Marriage’ and Related Pastoral Issues.” However, this decree is a rather straightforward application of existing Catholic doctrine and canon law to the new situation of legal marital status being granted in civil law to same-sex couples, which is contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Church. All clergy before they are ordained take an Oath of Fidelity which includes the statement, “In fulfilling the charge entrusted to me in the name of the Church, I shall hold fast to the deposit of faith in its entirety; I shall faithfully hand it on and explain it, and I shall avoid any teachings contrary to it. I shall follow and foster the common discipline of the entire Church and I shall maintain the observance of all ecclesiastical laws, especially those contained in the Code of Canon Law.” Pastors and bishops repeat this oath upon assuming their office to be exercised in the name of the Church. Thus, deacons, priests and bishops cannot contradict Church teachings or refuse to observe ecclesiastical laws without violating their oath, which is a promise made to God.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will preside at the Monday, Dec. 12, service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sixth Street and Lawrence Avenue. Services will be held simultaneously at six other churches in Edwardsville, Mount Zion, Teutopolis, Jacksonville, Hillsboro and Quincy.

It’s the first time a public event like this has been conducted by the diocese, according to Patricia Kornfeld, the diocese’s victims assistance coordinator.

The impetus was the desire of the diocese “to express repentance and forgiveness for the sins of the past,” Kornfeld said.

Signs bishops and priests look for in candidates for demonic possession include inexplicable activity, speaking a language the victim has no knowledge of, demonstrations of superhuman strength, knowledge of hidden information and an aversion to holy things, like crucifixes or holy water.

“If it’s done, it should be an absolute last resort,” said Baglio. “And priests need to work with professionals to exclude natural causes.”

Though most of the exorcisms Baglio witnessed, some with Thomas were mundane, some involved violent shaking and “unnatural and uncanny” guttural voices that conveyed a sense of deep suffering on the participants’ behalf.

Baglio also spent time with some of the world’s foremost exorcists and heard stories of a woman vomiting up a small black toad (it dissolved when the exorcist went to catch it) and another woman vomiting up seven small black nails.

Baglio also recounts in “The Rite” a story of an Austrian nun who was possessed because her father used to perform satanic rituals on her as a child.